Swadeshi movement - my view

The other day a friend of mine (whose views are very enlightening and always interesting) came up with some statement which invariably led to me sharing my NOT SO POPULAR view on the Swadeshi movement.

Just thought I'd put up on my blog as well.. (well its my blog, it should have my views, right?)

IF YOU HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE..then go ahead and chuck away the imported stuff.. and harp on about BE INDIAN - BUY INDIAN..
IF YOU HAVE THE SETUP IN PLACE (a manufacturing plant or the likes).. please do chuck out all the imported crap and stop consuming foreign made goods.

There is absolutely nothing as gratifying as self sufficiency.

But if you chuck them out BEFORE.. AND THEN TRY TO ACHIEVE AN ALTERNATIVE OR THE SET-UP.. WELL THATS JUST ILL PLANNED AND STUPID..

There were people, merchants, shop keepers, businessmen etc whose lively-hood depended on this - importing foreign goods and selling them to the local population.

now there were OTHER individuals whose income depended directly on the income of THESE merchants. THESE people suffered. These were the individuals employed by the businesses, by the merchants, by the traders. The clerks, the people employed to man the shop and the accounts.

There was NOTHING right about the SWADESHI movement. Ill planned - ill conceived gimmick - which gained publicity thanks to the political figures involved.